Best Drawing Tablet for Mac 2015

There's now hundreds of drawing tablets out there but which ones work best with Macs? We've reviewed the best drawing tablets for Mac of 2021 which work great with macOS.

You'll find drawing pads here to suit all budgets from entry-level tablets for beginners to professional drawing tablets for artists and illustrators.

We found the best drawing for pad for Mac is the Wacom Intuos Pro for its excellent compatibility with Macs, amazing realism when drawing and value for money.

You'll find all the graphic design pads featured here are compatible for use with the best graphic design software on a Mac such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.

They're also ideal for designing logos freehand with the best logo design software for Mac.

And if you've never edited images or done image compositing with a drawing pad, you're in for a treat as they allow an incredibly high level of precision compared to a mouse or trackpad.

They're also compatible with the latest versions of macOS Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur and are the best drawing pads for MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs and iMacs.

All the drawing tablets reviewed here are also compatible with the latest M1 Macs based on Apple's silicon technology.

What To Look For In The Best Drawing Tablets

Here's a few essential things to consider before getting a graphics tablet for your Mac.

• Screen

Drawing pads fall into two types – those with a screen and those without. Those without a screen such as the Wacom Intuos Pro require an external monitor to work (i.e. your Mac's screen) and usually connect via Bluetooth or USB cable. Those with a screen are usually more expensive as they are aimed at mid-level artists to professionals such as the amazing Wacom Cintic 22 or Apple iPad Pro. One added advantage of choosing a graphics tablet with a screen is that the new Sidecar feature introduced in macOS Catalina now allows you to use it as a second external display for your Mac. In these reviews, we've featured a combination of drawing pads for Mac users both with and without screens.

• Wacom

If you're wondering whether Wacom tablets work with Macs then the good news is that they do. The Wacom Cintiq 22 is our top rated drawing tablet for Mac Wacom are still the industry leaders in drawing tablets. Wacom was the first company to come up with tablets that accurately represented drawing on paper such as the incredibly realistic Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition and the Wacom range easily remain the best drawing tablets on the market. In recent years, it has faced competition from Chinese brand Huion which offer many of the same features for half the price, although with more technical headaches and quality issues. Wacom tend to be some of the most expensive graphics tablets on the market but in our experience, they're definitely worth it.

• Pressure Sensitivity

The best tablets can detect how hard or soft you press with a stylus and even if you tilt the pen. Sensitivity is measured in pressure levels and the higher it is, the greater the sensitivity. The best tablets currently offer pressure levels of up to 8192 which is incredibly sensitive and gives you full control over how thick or thin lines are depending how hard you press. In general, you should go for the drawing tablet with the maximum pressure level you can afford.

• Size

The bigger the better but just because a tablet is bigger doesn't mean it's better. That's because what's important is the active drawing area – the space on the tablet you can actually draw on. More screen estate means more space to draw. Bigger tablets also usually have more features and keyboard shortcuts to help speed-up your workflow. Some tablets like the Wacom Intuos Pro allow you to map your MacBook or iMac screen to your tablet so you can configure how much Mac screen estate you want to use as an extension of your tablet.

• Connectivity

Most graphics tablets connect to your Mac via Bluetooth but we've found that some definitely work better than others with Macs. Most require drivers to setup and we've found that Wacom tablets are the most reliable and easy to connect to Bluetooth on Mac. We've found that Huion's can be more troublesome to setup with drivers sometimes not working or failing to reconnect to your tablet after your Mac has been asleep. Note that some tablets will only work via USB cable which eliminates connectivity problems but can get in the way of your drawing. Unsurprisingly, the Apple iPad Pro offers by far the best connectivity with a Mac allowing you to connect easily in various forms via Bluetooth, AirDrop or iCloud.

• Keyboard Shortcuts

The top graphics tablets allow you to set keyboard shortcuts to make it quicker and easier to perform certain functions. Most of the better drawing pens also have buttons on them which saves valuable time looking for features on the tablet screen and speeds-up your workflow. You'll find that cheap tablets often don't include shortcut buttons on the pens.

• Price

If you're serious about drawing, we recommend paying more for a better tablet than starting with a cheap one and then upgrading later. Tablets like the Wacom Cintiq 22 and iPad Pro certainly cost more but also offer more features and therefore room to grow. Changing tablets later on also requires adapting again to a new feel and often re-configuring your device to work with drawing applications again, buying new accessories, changing software etc.

With these points in mind, here are our reviews of the best drawing pads for Mac of 2021 in order of ranking.

1. Wacom Intuos Pro For Mac (Best For Beginners)

If you're starting out, the Wacom Intuos Pro has more than you need without being overwhelming and we think it's the best drawing tablet for beginners on a Mac.

There are many reasons why we rated the Wacom Intuos Pro the best drawing pad for Mac of 2021 but here's a summary of what we really like about it.

• It supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt response. That means it's extremely responsive and the closest thing you'll find to putting pen to paper. This makes stippling work much easier and enables you to draw light and heavy strokes.
• It allows you to rest your palm on the tablet for a more natural experience. This is known as Touch Rejection and means your resting hand won't be picked-up or smear your drawings.
• It's a native wireless device which means the pen connects to your Mac via Bluetooth and there's no noticeable lag when you draw. You can also use it connected by wire to a USB port too. Setup is easy and connectivity with Macs is very reliable.
• You can map an area of the tablet to correspond with an area of your Mac's display. This allows you to take full advantage of your Mac's screen estate which is one of the reasons we think the Wacom Intuos Pro is also the best drawing pad for the MacBook Pro's bigger screen.

• There's also the Wacom Intuos Pro Paper Edition (around $50 extra) which is incredibly realistic allowing you to place a sheet of paper over the tablet to draw on with a real pen. It comes with with a detachable Paper Clip and a Finetip (gel) Pen for sketching on paper. Although the results are not exactly like what you get on paper (the line quality is comparable with any regular tablet) it's about as close as it gets. You can see the paper edition in action below.

• You can choose from Small, Medium or Large. We particularly like the Medium screen which is extremely compact at 13.2" x 8.5" but offers a decent 8.7" x 5.8" workspace.
• There are useful added features such as multi-touch gestures, customizable Express Keys, Radial Menus and pen side switches
• We think it's the best tablet for drawing with Photoshop on Mac because the Wacom Intuos Pro gives superb accuracy to edit photos and illustrations in Adobe Photoshop.

What we don't like:

• It takes some time to get used to the sensitivity of the pen. If you had a tablet before and used applications such as Adobe Illustrator or Lightroom with it, you'll also need to re calibrate things like pressure curve settings to use the new pen. In fact, any pressure levels or setting you've ever setup with any program will have to be reset to use with the Wacom Intuos Pro but it's worth it in the long run.
• You may experience quite a bit of rough drag depending on what kind of nib you use. The standard and felt nibs can feel particularly rough. This can slow down your production time especially when it comes to light strokes. Nibs also tend to run out quite quickly so make sure you've got plenty spare ones. One way to make nibs last longer is to get the smooth surface sheet although this can also feel a bit slippy for our liking. Note that there are no rubber tipped, flex or spring nibs available.
• The Touch features can be quite hit and miss depending on the program. For example, many programs can't detect the difference between a rotate and zoom using the Wacom Intuos Pro but this is usually down to the applications than the tablet itself.
• The side buttons definitely speed up efficiency but also take time to get used to and to begin with, you'll definitely find yourself spending time hunting for the right shortcut rather than drawing.
• Any older Wacom accessories you have such as grips won't work with the Intuos Pro.

You can check out our full Wacom Intuos Pro review for more.

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2. Wacom Cintiq 22 (Best For Professionals)

If you're a budding designer or professional artist looking for a good value, quality drawing pad with a screen, we think the Wacom Cintiq 22 is the best drawing pad for professionals on a Mac.

Certainly If you're looking for the best drawing tablet with a display to go with your Mac, you can't do better than the Wacom Cintiq 22.

Here's what we love about the Cintiq 22 drawing tablet:

• Generous screen estate with a 19.5 x 11.5 inch display and 1920 x 1080 resolution and 16.7 million colors that's big enough for all canvas size needs.
• It includes the Pro Pen 2 which uses an innovative Electro Magnetic Resonance system to power it so it does not require a battery.
• Anti-glare feature makes a real difference to drawing on a screen, even compared to the iPad Pro.
• Incredibly high pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels with the Pen Pro 2 included which gives unbelievably high precision and realistic drawing experience. There's also a satisfying level of drag with the Pen Pro 2 that gives it an edge over drawing on glass with the iPad Pro.
• Very reasonably priced considering this is a high end drawing tablet with screen and high specs.
• Can be used as a second external display for your Mac thanks to Sidecar in macOS.

There are a few things we don't like:

• Like most Wacoms, the Cintiq 22 has to be connected to your Mac to use it.
• There's no touch input.
• The screen brightness can be a bit low if the environment you're using it in is very bright but it's fine in normal lighting and especially low light.

These are all relatively minor drawbacks though to what is a superb electronic drawing tablet.

For those that want the ultimate drawing tablet experience, we recommend also taking a look at the amazing Cintiq Pro 24 which has an incredible 4K monitor and 17 programmable buttons but it costs in the region of $1,899.

For those looking for a cheaper alternative to the Cintiq Pro 24, we also recommend checking out the excellent XP Pen Artist 22.

You can also check out our full Cintiq 22 review here.

Buy on Amazon

3. Apple iPad Pro (Best Apple Drawing Pad)

The iPad Pro has come a long way when it comes to drawing and is without doubt the best Apple drawing tablet for Mac users.

Because it's an Apple product, it's naturally the most Mac compatible drawing pad although that doesn't mean that it's the best.

The iPad Pro is available in 10.5 inch and 12.9 inch displays. The 12.9 inch display is actually bigger than a sheet of A4 paper for drawing and yet it's just 6.9mm thin.

It comes with the Apple Pencil which has the best battery life of any drawing pad pen on the market and offers incredibly responsive pressure accuracy.

You can use all of the Adobe Creative Cloud apps on the iPad Pro including Photoshop but it also includes the amazing free drawing software Procreate which, because it's made specifically for illustrating on an iPad, feels even better than using Photoshop.

Note that unfortunately Procreate For Mac is not available although there are some excellent alternatives to Procreate on Mac.

You can also Adobe Fresco – Adobe's amazing drawing application which utilizes the Apple Pencil to emulate incredibly accurate oil, watercolor and vector brushes.

Pros:

• It's surprisingly nice to draw on even compared to professional drawing tablets.
• It doesn't need to be connected to your Mac to use it like most drawing tablets.
• It gives you control right down to the last pixel.
• It has pressure sensitivity and allows you to shape lines by titling the nib.
• It's an Apple product so it works seamlessly with your Mac
• There's almost no lag. Apple claims the latency is below 20ms and it's incredibly smooth and quick to draw with.
• The Apple Pencil has a long battery life and is rechargeable.
• You can use Apple Procreate on the iPad Pro which is easier than Photoshop and a great way for beginners to get into drawing on a tablet.

Cons:

• Pressure sensitivity isn't as good as with dedicated drawing tablets.
• You really need the bigger 12.9 iPad Pro for drawing on – the 10.5 inch version simply feels too small although the 12.9 inch screen isn't very portable compared to other tablets.
• The screen on an iPad doesn't give the same feedback as a drawing tablet – it doesn't feel quite as natural.
• It's not exactly cheap but you're not just getting a drawing tablet, you're getting an iPad.
• The 12.9 inch model certainly feels heavier than the average tablet.
• Can be used as a second external display for your Mac thanks to Sidecar in macOS.

The iPad Pro isn't a dedicated artist tool but it provides a surprisingly good drawing experience with the peace of mind that it will always work well with Macs.

If you're thinking of using an iPad for using Visio, we also recommend checking out these alternatives to Visio on iPad which in some cases, provide a much better diagramming experience.

If you're looking for something that integrates seamlessly with your Mac, then you can't do better than the Apple iPad Pro although the actual drawing experience isn't quite as realistic as with dedicated drawing tablets like the Wacom Intuos Pro.

Buy on Amazon

4. Huion H610 Graphics Drawing Tablet (Best Budget)

The Huion H610 Graphics Drawing Tablet is marketed as optimized for Android devices but it also works perfectly well with Macs (if you install the drivers correctly).

If you're a Mac user that also needs Android compatibility with your Phone or Tablet, the Huion H610 is an excellent drawing pad.

Pros:

• Big drawing surface of 10 x 6.25 inches.
• The pen is wireless and rechargeable so you don't need to buy new batteries for it.
• Touch ring allows you to easily zoom in and out on your canvas.
• Tilt support for better pressure detection and accurate cursor positioning.
• It supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity making it easier to draw thick and thin lines with no lag or jitter.
• It feels natural to draw on providing a decent amount of flow for the pen.
• There are 12 express keys and 16 hotkeys to speed-up your workflow and these can be customized for right or left-handed users.
• The tablet is light, thin and the pen feels sturdy.

Cons:

• Can be very fussy trying to make it work with drawing software especially Adobe products. If you're a professional designer, you're much better off going for a Wacom which play much better with drawing software.
• Some users report problems getting the drivers to work with it on Mac but you need to whitelist the "HuionTablet" and "TabletDriverAgent" in the driver whitelist on macOS after the drivers are installed. If you don't do this, you'll experience a range of problems from your Mac simply being unable to detect the device to an inability to use the tablet after your Mac has gone to sleep.

For what you get, the Huion Pro is very good value with functionality comparable to a Wacom but with a much lower price tag.

Just be aware that you may have some headaches getting it to work properly with your Mac.

Buy on Amazon

5. XP-Pen Deco (Best For MacBook Air)

If you're looking for a cheap drawing tablet that's light enough to go with your MacBook Air, you can't get much cheaper – or thinner – than the XP-Pen Deco.

The XP-Pen Deco isn't just a graphics tablet – it's also a replacement for a traditional mouse or touchpad. If you're looking for something as light and thin as the MacBook Air, then the XP-Pen is the best drawing tablet for MacBook Air owners.

The slimline pen also works wirelessly thanks to it's own Bluetooth receiver which plugins into the USB port of your Mac.

The pen also doesn't require a battery or recharging so you never get interrupted when you're in the flow with something.

Pros:

• It has 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity which is as good as any digital pen out there
• We like the way you can toggle between pen and eraser instantly
• It's incredibly lightweight at just 8mm thin
• It's easy to set up with the drivers
• Pen works wirelessly
• Good value for money

Cons:

• It's very basic. There are no control buttons on the pen for example and it's certainly not suitable for professional drawing.
• Since it's so thin, it's very easy to break if you drop it or mishandle it in someway.
• Although it's great you can use it as a replacement for a mouse or trackpad, using a pen to control your Mac doesn't feel very natural.

The XP-Pen is definitely one of the best looking digital drawing pad for Mac out there but the lack of features makes it very limited.

If you're on a very tight budget  and what an ultra thin tablet for a MacBook Air, it's a decent graphics tablet for Mac users.

Note that if there is no availability on Amazon, you can also purchase through the XP-Pen store directly.

You can also check out our full XP-Pen Deco Mini review for more.

Buy on Amazon

Does Apple Make A Drawing Tablet?

The Apple iPad Pro is by far the closest thing to an Apple drawing pad although iPads are not mainly designed for drawing.

The latest Apple iPad Pro 12.9 is an incredible device with a new A12Z Bionic chip with an 8-core graphics engine.

Combined with the Apple Pencil, it does provide an incredibly realistic drawing experience and is used by many top graphic designers.

Although you can use all Adobe Creative Cloud apps on it including Photoshop and Adobe Fresco, the iPad Pro also includes it's own amazing free drawing software Procreate which is even better than using Photoshop on an iPad.

Because it's made by Apple, it's also the easily the most Mac compatible drawing tablet out there and even allows you to use it as a second screen with your Mac thanks to Sidecar in macOS.

Of all the iPad range, it's certainly the best Apple tablet for drawing.

Our advice is if you want a drawing pad with a screen and sensitive pen but not bothered about rotation, the iPad Pro makes an excellent drawing pad.

We hope we've helped you choose a drawing tablet for your needs but if you have any questions, problems or suggestions about any of the drawing tabs featured here, let us know in the comments below.

Best Drawing Tablet for Mac 2015

Source: https://machow2.com/best-drawing-tablet-mac/

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